Chivas USA falls to FC Dallas despite De La Fuente’s inspired debut

Bryan de la Fuente was getting his first taste of the big time on Oct. 23, 2010, when he made his MLS debut as a reserve in Chivas USA’s final game of the season.

Almost like a September call-up to the big leagues, de la Fuente was likely certain that appearance would be the springboard to his professional career,

Until Wednesday night, he had never played again in Major League Soccer beyond that eight-minute stint, but after signing this week, he started and scored a first-half goal that in other times might have been inspiration enough for Chivas.

Instead, FC Dallas scored three times in the final 10 minutes ­— twice while down a man — to record a 3-1 victory at StubHub Center.

“We took playing a man up the wrong way,” Chivas coach Jose Luis Real said. “We took it as if we already were seeing ourselves winning the game, completely the opposite of what we do playing a man down.”

Which Chivas has experience with, having eight players expelled from games this season.

Former MLS MVP David Ferreira came off the bench and broke a 1-1 tie in the 86th minute, six minutes after Jackson was sent off with his second yellow card.

A midfielder who was signing was announced just Tuesday, de la Fuente actually played more for the U.S. under-20 team than he did during the 2010-11 seasons with Chivas.

Most recently, the 21-year-old has been a mainstay for the Chivas under-23 squad until he earned his way to the varsity.

“The whole week when I was practicing with the starting 11 there was a possibility of starting,” de la Fuente said. “That game was in my mind. Even though I played like eight minutes, I was like, ‘I’ve got to play better than that, and I’ve got to score.’”

Anything, especially goals, de la Fuente could contribute could be a boost for the Goats (4-14-6), who are in last place in the Western Conference standings but was trying to defeat Dallas (9-7-9) for the second time this season.

Ramon Nunez, who set up Ferreira’s goal, curled a shot into the upper right corner in the 90th minute for the final goal.

De la Fuente found the net for Chivas in the 43rd minute. Midfielder Eric Avila found Marky Delgado with a pass just outside the box, and Delgado lobbed a slow chip pass toward the net.

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Somehow, de la Fuente got behind the defense without being offside, took the ball on a bounce and sent it past goalkeeper Raul Fernandez.

“At first I couldn’t believe it because I thought the ball was going to go over the goal,” de la Fuente said. “But then when I scored I just thanked God for the opportunity and some tears came out of my eyes.”

It would have made for a nicer story for Chivas if the goal stood up, but Dallas patiently fought back and found a goal in the 71st minute.

Fabian Castillo pulled in a pass on the left flank and then dropped it back to trailing forward Blas Perez, who shot from about 18 yards out.

The ball deflected off defender Mario de Luna, and that was enough to wrong-foot goalkeeper Dan Kennedy as the ball skipped past him into the net.

“That first deflection goal, that one kind of sucked,” Chivas defender Carlos Bocanegra said. “That’s too bad when those happen like that, it lets them back in the game, gives them some spirit.”

Chivas got a break in the 80th minute when midfielder Jackson picked up his second yellow card after leaving his feet to collide into Bocanegra.

Instead of Chivas taking advantage of being a man up, Dallas got the winning goal when Nunez sent Ferreira in and his sharp-angle shot from the left went in off the far post before Bocanegra could chase it down.

Nunez finished it off with his goal and Chivas saw its winless streak reach four games (0-3-1).